While alkali-activated materials (AAMs) have been hailed as a very promising solution to mitigate colossal CO2 emissions from world portland cement production, there is lack of robust models that can demonstrate this claim. This paper pioneers a novel system dynamics model that captures the system complexity of this problem and addresses it in a holistic manner. This paper reports on this object-oriented modeling paradigm to develop a cogent prognostic model for predicting CO2 emissions from cement production. The model accounts for the type of AAM precursor and activator, the service life of concrete structures, carbonation of concrete, AAM market share, and policy implementation period. Using the new model developed in this study, strategies for reducing CO2 emissions from cement production have been identified, and future challenges facing wider AAM implementation have been outlined. The novelty of the model consists in its ability to consider the CO2 emission problem as a system of systems, treating it in a holistic manner, and allowing the user to test diverse policy scenarios, with inherent flexibility and modular architecture. The practical relevance of the model is that it facilitates the decision-making process and policy making regarding the use of AAMs to mitigate CO2 emissions from cement production at low computational cost.The quasi-static penetration properties of hybrid laminates were experimentally investigated. Aramid fabrics, carbon fabrics, and short hemp fibres were applied as the reinforcements of hybrid and non-hybrid composite laminates with polyurethane-polyurea (PUR/PUA) matrix. The laminates were made by hand, in a mould. They were cured at room temperature for 24 h. Hybrid laminates consisted of aramid and carbon layers in two different configurations, i.e., aramid at the innermost layers and outermost layers. Aramid/PUR/PUA and carbon/PUR/PUA composites were fabricated for comparison purposes. Laminates were also prepared via an analogue sequence of laying the reinforcement layers with the addition of 5% by weight of hemp fibres in the PUR/PUA matrix. Quasi-static penetration tests (QSPT) were conducted using a tensile testing machine with a surface-hardened, hemispherical, steel punch (9 mm diameter tip), reflecting the geometry of the Parabellum projectile. A quasi-static puncture test was carried out until the laminate was perforated. The ratio between the support span (Ds) and the punch diameter (Dp) was SPR = Ds/Dp = 5.0. The results showed the influences of laminate hybridisation on the values of absorbed energy, punch shear strength, and damage mechanism in the QSPT test. The addition of hemp fibres to aramid laminates resulted in a positive hybridisation effect. The order of layers of aramid and carbon fabrics in hybrid laminates influenced the results obtained in the QSPT test.Agroecosystem conditions limit the productivity of lowbush blueberry. Our objectives were to investigate the effects on berry yield of agroecosystem and crop management variables, then to develop a recommendation system to adjust nutrient and soil management of lowbush blueberry to given local meteorological conditions. We collected 1504 observations from N-P-K fertilizer trials conducted in Quebec, Canada. The data set, that comprised soil, tissue, and meteorological data, was processed by Bayesian mixed models, machine learning, compositional data analysis, and Markov chains. Our investigative statistical models showed that meteorological indices had the greatest impact on yield. High mean temperature at flower bud opening and after fruit maturation, and total precipitation at flowering stage showed positive effects. Low mean temperature and low total precipitation before bud opening, at flowering, and by fruit maturity, as well as number of freezing days ( less then -5 °C) before flower bud opening, showed negative effects. Soil and tissue tests, and N-P-K fertilization showed smaller effects. Gaussian processes predicted yields from historical weather data, soil test, fertilizer dosage, and tissue test with a root-mean-square-error of 1447 kg ha-1. An in-house Markov chain algorithm optimized yields modelled by Gaussian processes from tissue test, soil test, and fertilizer dosage as conditioned to specified historical meteorological features, potentially increasing yield by a median factor of 1.5. Machine learning, compositional data analysis, and Markov chains allowed customizing nutrient management of lowbush blueberry at local scale.Tafazzin is a phospholipid transacylase that catalyzes the remodeling of cardiolipin, a mitochondrial phospholipid required for oxidative phosphorylation. Mutations of the tafazzin gene cause Barth syndrome, which is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy, leading to premature death. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cause of mitochondrial dysfunction in Barth syndrome remain poorly understood. We again highlight the fact that the tafazzin deficiency is also linked to defective oxidative phosphorylation associated with oxidative stress. All the mitochondrial events are positioned in a context where mitophagy is a key element in mitochondrial quality control. Here, we investigated the role of tafazzin in mitochondrial homeostasis dysregulation and mitophagy alteration. Using a HeLa cell model of tafazzin deficiency, we show that dysregulation of tafazzin in HeLa cells induces alteration of mitophagy. Our findings provide some additional insights into mitochondrial dysfunction associated with Barth syndrome, but also show that mitophagy inhibition is concomitant with apoptosis dysfunction through the inability of abnormal mitochondrial cardiolipin to assume its role in cytoplasmic signal transduction. Our work raises hope that pharmacological manipulation of the mitophagic pathway together with mitochondrially targeted antioxidants may provide new insights leading to promising treatment for these highly lethal conditions.Low-loss dielectric nanomaterials are being extensively studied as novel platforms for enhanced light-matter interactions. Dielectric materials are more versatile than metals when nanostructured as they are able to generate simultaneously electric- and magnetic-type resonances. This unique property gives rise to a wide gamut of new phenomena not observed in metal nanostructures such as directional scattering conditions or enhanced optical chirality density. Traditionally studied dielectrics such as Si, Ge or GaP have an operating range constrained to the infrared and/or the visible range. Tuning their resonances up to the UV, where many biological samples of interest exhibit their absorption bands, is not possible due to their increased optical losses via heat generation. Herein, we report a quantitative survey on the UV optical performance of 20 different dielectric nanostructured materials for UV surface light-matter interaction based applications. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/abt-199.html The near-field intensity and optical chirality density averaged over the surface of the nanoparticles together with the heat generation are studied as figures of merit for this comparative analysis.